Wine Along The 101
  • Home
  • Articles
    • 2023 Articles >
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour 2022, A Brief Look at the Complex World of Italian Wine
      • A Night of Sicilian Wine, Spotlighting Cambria and Madaudo Wineries
      • Yealands Wines, “Think Boldly, Tread Lightly”, Leading the World Toward Sustainable Winemaking
    • 2022 Articles >
      • Further Defining the Single Vineyard Cru Wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, the Rise of the MGA
      • The Barolo Cru Wines of Beni di Batasiolo
      • Pyros Wines Sparks World-Class Malbec
      • AlloraVino Imports, a Love Affair with Italian Wine
      • Maisons Marques & Domaines Wine Portfolio: Prestige, Glamour and Good Taste for the Holidays
      • The Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI, a Condiment and a Culture
      • Rocca delle Macìe, Taking Chianti Classico to New Heights
      • Alluring and Iconic, The World of Chianti Wines
      • Paso Robles Weaves a Thrilling Tapestry of World-Class Wine
      • LXV Wines, The Spice of Paso Robles
      • The Mouthwatering Sauvignon Blancs of Chile
      • The Wines of Portugal, Discover a World of Difference
      • Domaines Albert Bichot, An Exceptional Approach to Burgundian Wine
      • The Wines of Abruzzo Undergo a Renaissance of Quality
      • Ketcham Estate, Exceptional Wines From The Heart of the Russian River Valley
      • La Rioja Alta, S.A., Innovation and Tradition That Stands the Test of Time
      • Vega Sicilia Celebrates 40 Years of Winemaking Excellence
      • Planeta of Sicily Embraces the Past While Reaching For the Future
      • The Spirit of Renaissance is Alive and Well in “South of Somewhere”
      • Gambero Rosso Returns to LA, With the Best of Italian Wines
      • Falanghina and Aglianico del Taburno, Sannio's Ancient Wine Stars
      • Tablas Creek Vineyard Embraces Regenerative Organic Farming
    • 2021 Articles >
      • Make Merry With Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Wines
      • Discover These Enchanting Italian Wines, From the Fog of Piedmont to the Island Breezes of Sardinia
      • Rodney Strong Vineyards and Winery, Revitalizing an Iconic Brand
      • Thanksgiving Tips for the Best Wine and Food Pairing
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wine Country Oasis
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wonderland of Wine
      • Smith-Madrone Wines, a Napa Valley Pioneer Celebrates Fifty Years of Excellence
      • Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the Land of Pinot Noir
      • Irvine & Roberts Vineyards, Exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Southern Oregon
      • BARRA of Mendocino Wines, an Original Organic Wine Play
      • The Opulent and Thrilling Wines of Denner Vineyards
      • L’Ecole No. 41, Expressive Wines That Pass the Test of Time With Flying Colors
      • France's Loire Valley, a Fairytale Land of Storybook Castles and Magical Wines
      • Craft Wine, Shining the Spotlight on America’s Small Wine Producers
    • 2020 Articles >
      • Margerum Wine Company, the Nexus of Sublime Santa Barbara County Wines
      • Catena Zapata, Malbec on High
      • Long Meadow Ranch, the Circle of Life in a Glass of Wine
      • Fontanafredda Barolo Forges a New Future
      • Bordeaux Wine 2017, Surprises in a Challenging Vintage
    • 2019 Articles >
      • The Rising Wine Country of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley
      • Discover Ashland and the Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon's Serenade to the Good Life
      • Napa Valley Grille, New Fall Menu Paired with European Wines
      • Embrace Your Wine Geek with PRIE Winery & Vineyards
      • Castello di Albola, Chianti Classico on High
      • Nicolas-Jay Wines, the Journey of a Lifetime
      • The Expanding Complexity of New Zealand Wine
      • Prosecco DOC, Splendor in the Glass
      • On the Oregon Wine Trail
      • Albariño and Rioja Star in Spain’s Great Match
      • Exciting and Eclectic, the Wines of Alentejo
      • Blaufränkisch Propels the Red Wines of Austria Into the Spotlight
      • Fascinating Greek Wines of the Cava Spiliadis Collection
      • Revolution In Rioja Wine
    • 2018 Articles >
      • Temecula Valley Celebrates 50 Years of Winemaking
      • The Stellar Wines of Sardinia
      • Italian Wines Prescribed by Doctor Wine
      • The Alluring Wines of Tunisia
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2018
      • Velenosi Wines, From Le Marche to the World
      • Sauvignon Blanc, a Rising Star in Napa Valley
      • Frank Family Vineyards Celebrates 25 Years
      • Markus Wine Co., Sleek New Red Wines Up the Ante for Lodi Reds
      • Lodi Wine, Over 100 Varieties Strong
      • Ramona Valley Wine Country, an Up and Coming Wine Region
      • Hertelendy Vineyards, the Pursuit of Excellence
      • Napa Valley Wine, Nirvana in a Bottle
      • Wine Stroll: Explore Downtown Paso Robles Wineries
      • The Beautiful Shades of Lodi Rosé Wines
      • Doubling Down on Gold Medal Wines: The San Francisco International Wine Competition
      • The Exotic Wines of Lebanon
      • Australian Wines, Rediscover the New Frontier
      • New Zealand Wines, Expanding beyond Sauvignon Blanc
      • Visit France in 2018, a Feast of Food, Wine, Culture and History
      • Bordeaux Wine 2015, A Very Good Year
      • Portugal's Treasure Chest of Wines
      • Livermore Valley, California’s Original Wine Country Reborn
      • Concannon and Wente Vineyards, California’s Pioneers of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
      • Livermore Valley Wine Country, the Future Looks Bright
    • 2017 Articles >
      • Viña Ardanza Rioja Turns 75, an Enchanting Wine Gets Even Better
      • The VIP Sparkle of Prosecco Superiore
      • Lodi Wine Country, Seriously Good Wine From A to Z
      • Lodi Wine Country, Old Vines and Great Wines
      • Lodi Wine Country, Winegrowers and Winemakers Focused on the Future
      • Lugana White Wine, Better With Age
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip to LA
      • Sweetzer Cellars, a Life Changing Journey of Wine
      • Lugana and Valpolicella, the Yin and Yang of the Veneto
      • Three R’s of Summer Wine, Rosé, Riesling, and Ramato
      • Familia Martínez Bujanda, Wines Without Borders
      • Codorníu Cava, the Ars and Anna Collection
      • New and Exciting Wines from the 2017 Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration
      • Sensual Delights on Display at Savor Italy Los Angeles
      • Pizza and Franco Pepe, Italy’s Best Comes to LA
      • Montes Wines, Wisdom in Wine From Father to Son
      • Passionate Pinot Noir Lovers Unite at the 2017 World of Pinot
      • Vignalta, Wines of the Highest Order
      • Santa Lucia Highlands Sensational Wines
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2017
      • Law Estate Wines: Quality by Design
      • Taittinger and Calvisius: Champagne and Caviar Dreams
      • Riding High on American Rhone Wines, The Rhone Rangers LA Tasting
      • Discover Monterey Wine Country, wine and so much more
      • Wines of Portugal, the Perfect Dinner Companion
      • Gruet's Enchanting Sparkling Wines
    • 2016 Articles >
      • The Art of Italian Living, SoCal Style
      • Wines of Alsace: Perfect for the Holidays
      • Oso Libre Winery; Vines, Wines, and Angus Beef
      • Best Wines for Thanksgiving
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour Sweeps Through Los Angeles
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Chardonnay
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Pinot Noir
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Rhône Varietals
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Bordeaux Varietals
      • Achaval-Ferrer, Exceptional Wines from Argentina
      • Celebration of Harvest Grand Tasting 2016 Highlights
      • The Celebrity Sparkle of Ferrari Trento Wines
      • Santa Barbara Wine Country’s Celebration of Harvest 2016
      • The Garagiste Festival, Off the Beaten Path Wines
      • Explore SLO Wine Country, Central California’s Hidden Gem
      • Byron Winery, The Grand Pinot Noir Experiment
      • Crocker & Starr Wines, Organically Elegant
      • Escape to Santa Maria Wine Country
      • The Elegant White Wines of Domäne Wachau
      • Champagne Palmer: The New Champagne on the Block
      • Holman Ranch & Vineyards: Making Memories & Wine at Romantic California Hideaway
      • Luminous Wines of France's Loire Valley
    • Examiner.com Articles >
      • Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards: Wines Without Compromise
      • All Stars of Pinot Noir Rock the 2016 World of Pinot
      • Ampelos Wines' Biodynamic Brilliance
      • Artisan Uprising: Blood Into Wine
      • Bodegas Beronia Rioja: The Magic of Oak
      • Crawford Family Wines: Unlocking Varietal Flavor
      • Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards' Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs Shine Bright
      • Hahn Family Wines: Santa Lucia Highlands' Sweet Spot
      • Kimmel Vineyards: Good Wine Flows from Challenging Times
      • Larner Vineyard: Sweet Spot for Syrah and Grenache
      • LOCA for Lodi Wine
      • Lompoc Wine Ghetto
      • Sanford Winery & Vineyards, Delicious Wines That Tell a Tale
      • The Diverse and Divine Wines of Santa Barbara County
      • Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail
      • The Stellar Wines of California's Sta. Rita Hills
      • Skinner Vineyards, Destiny and Determination
      • Wines of Portugal, The Art of the Blend
  • Wine Reviews
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, in Can and Bottle
    • Coen Malbec Reserve 2019, a New World Wine with Old World Sensibilities
    • Sangre de Toro Rosé, A Light and Bright Summer Thirst Quencher
    • Summer and Sauvignon Blanc, Lucky Rock Wine Co. Style
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
    • Monte Velho, Fascinating Wines and Value-Priced
    • Grassl Glasses Add Depth to Wine Enjoyment
    • Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé Brut Makes Everyday a Holiday
    • Festive Ferrari Trento Sparkling Wines For All Occasions
    • Bodegas CARO, the Best of Both Worlds
    • Kosher Wines For the Jewish High Holidays Are Highly Recommended Anytime of Year
    • Oak Farm Vineyards, a Rainbow of Delicious Lodi Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2019
    • Ron Rubin Wines, The Dream Series
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2018
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2018
    • Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux, Expressive Wines at Everyday Prices
    • Légende Collection of Bordeaux Wines
    • Five Contemporary California Wines To Try
    • Alternative Sparkling Wines For a Celebration
    • A Toast to Prosecco Superiore
    • Celebrate with this Pair of Spanish Red Wines
    • A Quartet of Summer Red Wines
    • Spanish Albariño, a Wine For All Seasons
    • Ciù Ciù Wines, Quality That Shines Through
    • A Trio of Red Wines for Holiday Merrymaking
    • Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso 2012
    • The Sultry Arnaldo Caprai Collepiano Montefalco Sagrantino
    • Pop the Cork on Charles Heidsieck Champagne and Bisol Prosecco
    • Garnacha Wines from DOP Cariñena, Beautiful Bang for the Buck
    • A Pair of Greek Wines for a Spring Feast
    • A Dynamic Duo of Sassy Spanish White Wines
    • Anderra Carménere
    • Artesa Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
    • Avignonesi Grandi Annate
    • Château Saint-Maur Rosé
    • La Miranda de Secastilla, Old Vine Garnacha Gems
    • Intriguing Israeli Wines
    • Leviathan
    • Domaines Paul Mas Wines Trio
    • Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, intensely refreshing and delicious
    • Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino
    • Stay Cool With These Two Charming White Wines
  • Events
    • Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure 2022 Highlights Hidden California Wine Gems
    • Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival 2019
    • World of Pinot Noir 2019, A Magical Mystery Tour
    • Journey to Planet Pinot at the 2018 World of Pinot Noir
    • Great Wines of Italy Comes to LA
    • Wine Along the Beach at Garagiste Wine Festival 2017
    • Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration 2017
    • Orbit the World of Pinot Noir at the 2017 World of Pinot
    • Rhone Rangers Los Angeles 2016
  • Wine Travel
  • Videos
    • Celebration of Harvest
    • Feliz Noche Wines
    • Terravant Custom Crush
    • Que Syrah, Shiraz!
    • Paso Robles Wine Festival
    • L'Aventure Syrah Harvest
    • Clos Pepe's Prince of Pinot
  • Photos
  • Who We Are
    • About Patricia Decker
    • About Fabian Rodriguez
Picture
Franco Pepe, considered the world's best pizza maker, brought his magic to LA
When the best pizza maker in the world comes to LA, it stirs up quite a buzz.  Especially when two beacons of Los Angeles’ culinary scene, Chef Nancy Silverton of Mozza fame and Los Angeles Times food writer Jonathan Gold attest to just how great this pizza is!
Picture
Jonathan Gold and Nancy Silverton
Picture
Franco Pepe
Sponsored by the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West, Silverton and Gold introduced Franco Pepe, master pizzaiolo, in what was billed as an “Extraordinary Italian Pizza Day”.  Pepe, flanked by Naples-born pizza artisan Daniele Uditi and other pizza maestros from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, conducted a master class, and revealed the secret to what makes his pizzas stand out on the world stage.
Picture
Picture
In the City of Angels, where pizza joints seem to be on every corner, over a hundred pizza lovers converged upon DeSano Pizza Bakery in East Hollywood, jonesing for a slice of what top food critics have crowned the king pie of the world.
Picture
Picture
Just like in wine, to make the best, you have to start with the best.  Quality ingredients make for authentic pizza, something that Franco Pepe takes very seriously, in fact, so much so, that he brought his own from his hometown of Caiazzo, a small Italian town about an hour northeast of Naples.  Pepe is a third generation pizzaiolo, and although he worked under his father in the family pizzeria, he aspired to take pizza making to the next level.  As Pepe realized, the true art of pizza was in the dough itself.  Tirelessly experimenting with the flour, water, and yeast that go into the dough, he developed techniques that brought out a “perfect mix of aroma, flavor, and lightness”, but then realized that the ingredients themselves needed to be special.  So he reached out to his community, farmers and agricultural specialists, and collaborated on resurrecting heritage grains and other products, which brought a vibrancy to his pizzas.  Pepe opened his own pizzeria, just a short distance from the family restaurant, and since then, hundreds of people nightly make the pilgrimage to Pepe in Grani, waiting hours for the chance to savor Pepe’s pizzas.
Picture
Franco Pepe and Nancy Silverton
Picture
Nancy Silverton made such a journey to Caiazzo, at the urging of her good friend, Italian food expert, Faith Willinger, and was so impressed with Pepe’s pizzas, she convinced him to tour the US, starting with Mozza a couple of years ago.  She confided to the crowd, “I don’t eat pizza, I don’t eat carbs”, but confessed to eating Pepe’s pizza, “I think I ate myself, four of his pizza”, making an exception for “extraordinary pizza”.  She thinks the secret goes beyond the crust, “What makes Franco’s pizza extraordinary is not only is his crust, that he kneads every single night by hand, after he closes the shop where he served over 500 pizzas, but it’s so extraordinary because what he puts on top, what he sources locally is so far better than anything that we have available to us.”  It’s this devil in the details, an obsession with near perfection in all aspects of the process, that sets Franco Pepe apart, whether it’s a nod to tradition by hand-kneading the dough, and only baking the pies in a wood-burning oven, or keeping an open mind to modern technology and sensibilities.  Silverton noted that pizzerias, once the lowest common denominator in Italy, are evolving, thanks to Pepe, whose passion and dedication have propelled pizza-making to an art, with Pepe in Grani at the helm.
Picture
Nancy Silverton and Jonathan Gold listen to Franco Pepe
Picture
Jonathan Gold is also a fan.  He, too, made the journey to Caiazzo, encouraged by his good friend Silverton, to experience the maestro in person.  “You know, whenever anyone tells you this is absolutely the best in the world, your attitude is usually OK, make my day!”  Gold laughed.  But he was intrigued, and found himself in front of Pepe’s pizzeria, waiting for three hours to be seated.  “What occurred to me, the second when I ate Franco’s pizza for the first time, it’s not just the crust, it’s the marriage between crust and sauce”, he said, “you don’t know where one starts and the other leaves off, the crust and the pizza feel almost alive in your mouth”.  Gold continued, “There’s a chewiness, but there’s a suppleness, the crispness is almost tender rare, because the pizzas are in and out (of the oven) so quickly, in some ways unlike any pizza you’ve ever eaten.”  He was impressed with the flavor, which comes from the infusion of top quality ingredients, such as the plump San Marzano tomatoes, creamy bufala mozzarella, and fragrant basil olive oil, atop a thin crust dough, all sourced from the immediate area around Caiazzo.
Picture
Franco Pepe speaks to the crowd
Picture
A video presentation displayed Pepe's art in his hometown of Caiazzo
Pepe spoke through a translator during his pizza master class, and with the assistance of a video presentation, he revealed his secrets slowly, but no worries, this is not something that can be easily duplicated.  His focus?  “Healthy and quality”, something in vogue right now, growing the best quality ingredients while helping the environment.  A crucial part of his success is the texture of the pizzas, going beyond just the crust.  Pepe started experimenting with Pizza Margherita, instead of putting all the ingredients on the crust and baking it together, he just baked the crust and the cheese.  Then when he pulled it out of the oven, he added the fresh tomato, an interplay of warm and cold, cooked and raw, that was drizzled with a strong basil reduction olive oil made from local herbs.  And the same with all his other pizzas, they are alive, bursting with the flavors of the individual toppings, placed fresh on top of the pies.
Picture
Picture
Pizza artisan Mario Vollera was part of the team that brought Franco Pepe's pizzas to life
Picture
Daniele Uditi
And so the pizza extravaganza began.  Dozens of pizzas were tossed, baked and topped at a furious pace for the hungry crowd.  DeSano’s four large wood-burning pizza ovens, imported from Italy and named after Italian saints, were cranking, as Peppe Miele, Mario Vollera, and Augusto Folliero of VPN Americas, Daniele Uditi of Pizzana, Franco Pepe, and DeSano's own pizzaiolos made their specialties.  Pizzas on sheet pans were carried out to anxious pizza lovers, seated at large, communal tables.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Fabian Rodriguez with one of these wonderful pizzas
So many varieties, some were Pepe’s masterpieces, the other creations were from the rest of these talented pizza makers, all incredibly delicious, from the humble Marinara to the grand Sfizio ai Pomodori, two cheeses, Grana Padana and Mozzarella, and two tomatoes, yellow tomatoes baked on the crust, with sun-dried cherry tomatoes added after.
Picture
Picture
Paolo Cressi poured the delightful La Montina Franciacorta wines
And the surprises didn’t stop there, glasses of sparkling La Montina Franciacorta Rosé and Brut were poured by Paolo Cressi of Vino Direct, which proved a worthy companion to the richness of the pizzas.
Picture
Picture
Fabian Rodriguez is a big fan of Franco Pepe
Picture
Patricia Decker with Franco Pepe
It was a heady afternoon, a celebration of the best of Italian culture, excellence in food and wine along with a joy for life, with many Italian expats in attendance.  It was all part of the exploration of the Extraordinary Italian Taste in Los Angeles, a series of monthly events that spotlight the authentic products of Italy, what we all love most, their food and wine.  La Dolce Vita!